A combination of festival, exhibition and rodeo is the Calgary Stampede. This is a ten-day event is full of adventure, thrill and excitement. This is definitely one of the best attractions in Canada that draws more than one million visitors every year. The annual event is billed itself as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and features some of the enthralling stage shows, chuckwagon racings, concerts, First Nations exhibitions, parades, rodeos and agricultural competitions.

It began in 1886, and was an instant hit. It was organized by the Calgary and District Agricultural Society. The Calgary Stampede had not started until 1912 when Guy Weadick, an American promoter visited Canada and organized first rodeo. In 1919, he again returned to The Calgary – this time to celebrate and honor the brave soldiers who fought in the Second World War. His festival was highly appreciated and honored and in 1923, it became an annual event when the Stampeded emerged with the Industrial Exhibition to form today’s the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede.
Major Events:

The popular events of the Calgary Stampede are:

• Parade: It serves the beginning of the event. Starts shortly before 9 o’clock in the morning on Friday, the event features floats, marching bands and horse parades. Every year, the event features different parade marshal that reflect the public interests at that moment
• Rodeo: Rodeo is the center of attraction and the heart of the event. The winner is given a whopping prize of $100,000. It has six main disciplines, such as bareback riding, saddle bronc, tie down roping, bull riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing, and four beginner events include wild pony racing, junior steer riding, novice saddle bronc and novice bareback.